Jarvie & Giles

Jarvie: If some seals are playing a game or having a race and one seal gets hit by some ice falling into the water, the thing for the rest of the seals to do, is to stop the game or the race and see if the one seal is okay. (Pause, then Sternly) That’s the thing to do!

As we approached the stairs, from the second floor, in my little brick, on Christmas morning in Cleveland, Ohio, the chatter my boys were engaging in would warm the heart of any twin parent, or parent of children close in age. Jarvie and Giles were explaining some things to me that were important for me to know, before we began opening our Christmas presents, which was going to happen momentarily!

Giles told me excitedly, “Mommy, we have decided that any gift, whether it says Jarvie, or Giles on it, is something we are going to share.

Jarvie added, “Mommy, it doesn’t matter what the package says on it. We can open any package, because we are going to share everything. So if it says Giles, I can still open it, and if it says Jarvie on it, Giles can still open it.

Giles went on to say, “Christmas is about family and sharing and the time you spend together, and not about gifts, so we have decided to share everything!”

What else could I say but, “Amen! or Bravo! or I love you boys?” All I can tell you is that, as I marched down those stairs, my heart was bursting with pride!

This stance completely alleviated any fears I had about any perceived indiscretions on my part, regarding the balance or fairness of the gifts provided! Sweet relief! What a gift this was on Christmas morning! Never forget, not all gifts come with a bow!

As my boys opened their Hot Wheels remote control cars, from my friend, Charrise in Virginia, they exclaimed “Awesome,” in unison! As they opened their Growing Crystals, and Tegu wooden, magnetic blocks, they related, “We are the luckiest boys in the world,” and “We have the best presents on the block!”

It was truly a lovely experience watching them get along and rip through their gifts squealing with delight!

To their credit, I must tell you, they followed the guidelines about sharing, they set out initially to the tee, throughout the gift opening, as well as, all day long, while they played with all of their newly prized toys! Truly spectacular!